Ms. McClain is elated and grateful to join the Ashlawn learning community as Principal. To have the opportunity to work hand in hand with the staff, and the families of Ashlawn is both exciting and humbling to her. Ms. McClain received a Bachelor of Science in Middle Childhood Education and Reading K-12 from Miami University (of Ohio). She earned a Masters in Education Curriculum and Instruction from Ashland University and a Certificate of Administration and Supervision from The George Washington University. Ms. McClain began her career outside Cincinnati, Ohio as an elementary school teacher in 2006. While in Ohio, she taught students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. Ms. McClain joined the Arlington community upon moving to Virginia in 2013 when she began teaching 6th grade at Williamsburg Middle School. Throughout her career, she has worked with students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade in a variety of settings and roles. It is her many experiences teaching and leading both in Cincinnati and Arlington that she feels positions her to help lead the Ashlawn students to success because she knows where the students are coming from, where they are, and where they are going. Ms. McClain is passionate about seeing students learn and grow and celebrating successes. She is looking forward to many celebrations at Ashlawn. It will not take long for the Ashlawn students and community to realize that Ms. McClain is a positive, up-beat person who is always smiling, she loves the outdoors, reading, jogging, playing tennis and bringing a smile to others – oh, and she loves to have fun!

Ms. Neary received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Health Science (K-12) from The College at Brockport in New York. She earned her first Master of Education as a Curriculum Specialist (K-12) and a certification in Special Education (K-12). More recently, Ms. Neary received her second master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City. Ms. Neary began her career in Arlington. She taught at Carlin Springs Elementary serving as a Special Education Teacher for six years. It was during these years that Ms. Neary also took on the role as Special Education Lead teacher which offered many opportunities for personal and professional growth. Most recently, she was a 3rd and 4th grade General Education Teacher and the Instructional Lead Teacher at Carlin Springs. She also has been a mentor teacher for the past six years, helping to guide new teachers to enhance their planning, instruction and content knowledge. It was in these leadership roles that Ms. Neary was instrumental in improving instructional practices and impacting student achievement across the entire school. In 2016, she was named Teacher of the Year by her colleagues and administrators at Carlin Springs.